Blank-folding machine.



H. Ml'. cLIaARw/ITER. BLANK FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I9, I9I3.

l ,149,1 85, v Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I- Q I I@ 15 j in# \II gli I COLUMBIA PLANoaR/PM CCL,WASHINGTON. D, c.

H. M. CLEARWATER.

BLANK FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN FILED APR; 19. 1913.

Y1149,l85 Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@XN me-owe 3 ww nio/L HM/ w f f' WM @51j hib futon/mwa ear e coLuMn.PLANUGRAPH CIB-.WASHINGTON D. c.

H. M. CLEARWATER.

BLANK FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLlcAloN man APR.19.1913.

1,149,185.. Pat-mam 1o, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ovvi/kwamen:

H. M. CLEARWATER.

BLANK FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION msn APn.19.1913.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.. WASHINOTQN, D. c.

ternalk of ,the blank, andis vheated Vin any convenient manner, vas bythe means described in the aforesaidv Y Patent-l No Tof s'eatsthelpresserVV 36.Y on the folded vedges y' of the blank the frame37 Visprovidedatits ends withy lugs 40, 41, having beveled Yupper edgestocoperate with the correspondingly 'l b'eveledfunder-edges.of theinwardly turned upperv ends ofa pair of verticalV camlevers j 42,.43,fa1e1-amea at 44,45 below wearable 'Y turesfftherein@.Initially 1the levers 'are in' 11 and extending up through suitable Vapertheir4*outer .l positions, wholly disconnected time they areswung in andeventuallyengage the lugs`4Q, 41 and cani the Vframe down, ltherebyseating the presser on the geo folded blank-edges- To rock thele'versinf the `manner just VVdescribed their lower. endsrv terminating insuitable anti-frictionl rollers 46, 47, extend intoL cooperation :with apair.

of suitable earns 49 on the cam-shaft 18e; solthat as the shaft rotates,the levers will,

bsvlmsrind out... t y

'fi Tha-arms 20, Whi h, as before stated, carry the head or'support 21,are swungup andy Ydown about the axis of shaft 19, to'carry theheadvtoward and fromfthe bedlO, by-an arm suitably connected with saidarms. Toufrock the arm 50 it is pivote'd toa down-V, wardly favorablyextending link 51, the forked lower'end ofwhich straddles the cam shaft1S andh'as a stud 52 extending'laten.

ally into la suitable face `cam 5 3 ixed on said shaft, so that asftheshaft rotates the cam the link will be reciprocated and the arm 50rockedaccordingly. p The partspso .far described arefound in the machineillustrated-inthe prior Patent No..1,043,722,above'referred toand theoperation, rbriefly stated, is as follows,:*The headvcarrying thetemplet 24 and presser 36v being raised, the blank to be folded,composed of jone ori more layers of cloth cut to the proper shape, islaiduponfthebed 10, after which the head descends and is seatedinexpanded position on theblanknV Suitable"infolders,fnot shown, thenmove in and fold `the edges of the blank over the edges ofthe templet. YAs soon as `the nfolders reach their inner positions they areretraeted,`and atthe samen time the templet collapses. Y While theinfolders and the templet are beingv freed from the foldedblankedgesythe leversor arms 42, 43 cam the presserl downgupon theblank-edges, vand when y.the presser is f seated the cam 17 straightensthe slightly buckled `toggles 12, 13,'thereby-raising .the bed 10andpressing the folded blank firmly againstthe presser. Aftercgthebedhasbeen held momentarily f1.3'v lat a suitable;jspeed.l

in raised lp'iositiomitovk give'itlie edges a sharp andpermanent'ncrease, Vthe cam 17V-buckles theV togglesf-slightly.,fthe

f :levers 42, 43y swing outtofree' the` presser, Y

whose springs 39 immediately-*-raisefitclear of 'the-blank,`and the cani53,' acting through;y l

derstoodffthat any convenientjfmeans, not shown, may b 'eused` to rotatethe cam shaft My inventl` nf in itspresent embodiment K y Y y A Y Ybasto do with the actuation Vof theV disk 35a Vfromv the presser frame37;y but at the proper toV expand `and collapse the templet, `and forthis purposel provide a lever160, fulcrumed onda plateor arm 61-rigidlyfixed vvtothe right-hand arm 2OA and extending rightwardly kpast the endof the yhead orplate21. The lever has on itsvinnerend anantifrictionroller 62 engaging .the notch 35g in the collar so that as the lever is.movedl on its'fulcrum-the disk 35 is rockedandr` the templet isexpanded Land contracted. The

fulcrum 63 is adjustable 4inlon/gitudinal slots in the lever 60 andbracket 61, to vary -or regulate the throw of the lvinnerfendof thelever andsovary or regulate thein-and-out movements of the templetsections,l asv will.

the lever is depressed into iapl'anega slight; distance above the topofthe lever .43 andits be readily understood. ,y The outer armofoutenendcarries ,ananti-friction roller64.y

Below this roller -is a plate 65, securelyk fixed to the right hand edgeof Vthe table 11 and y having at itsrear an upwardly, Aextendingstationary fin-ger 66.' rAt itszfrontV the said plate has a guide andystop finger67, which is arc-shaped and concentricwiththe shaft 19..Across the two fingers onthe outside thereof is a `b ridge 68, on whichis pivoted an upwardly extending one-way. swinging stop-switch orcam-member 69, normally held against the stop finger 67 bya spring 70.On top lof one fork of the lever 43 is a cap 5.71, .on whichis anantiffriction' roller 7 2te cooperate at the appropriate time with Yaninclined cam edge 73 on thedepressed portion-of the outer arm ofv.lever 60. 1

As-the'head 21 descends-with the templet collapsed, the roller 64,swingingin an larc parallel Vvto the finger 67 andy inclined edge 74 onthe linger' 66, passesbetween thefingers and strikes the vertical rearledge ofthe switch 69, as indicated v,in dotted lines in Figr.

vthen compelled toftakea vertical rectilinear pathwhile itsfulcrumcontinues to move in rThe outer end ofthe lever'6() is anAinclined path parallelfwiththeifinger 67,

Y thereby causingv the lever Atofswing counterclockwise, as seen. fromabove. This ex- 'pands the templet, the expansion of the lat.

ter being` Completed just `before it reaches the unfolded blank er1leed.k l0. and inst as the `roller a'escapes .fnom the bottom of the'Switch "69 after, Whehl therollerpaeees idly elena the Curved edge T5concentric with the shaft .19. At the proper ytime the leser 43 lSwingsin ae explained above, `but beforeit ,depresses lthe Jpresser into`Contact Withthe folded y,blank the roller 72,1 on `the upper end .ofthelelvlfV engagesthe inclined cam-,edge 73 onf the 'level-60, as shownin Fig. 5, and swings the latter clockwise (as seen from abone),@thereby .collapsing the templet land inciting .the :roller 64 -oiertoward `-the inner edge of the` ingerGY. This collapsing of ,the templetby vmeans of the same leyerwhioh applies pressure is effected duringVthe time thatwthe templet isfupon the yblank on .thebecl or, supportand after `the infolders have turned in the blanlredges Plieyious topressing, so that the edges are iirst folded, then freed fr'omi thetemplet and finallyfpn'essed The presser is now cammed down upon thefolded blank, which is free from the collapsed templet andl `theretracted inolderS..v The. ,pressing hav-ing been completechthe leveret?) swings back to its .outer orvinitial positoneandthe head `2l israised. Thisgcarries the roller 64 up- Wardly .in .a vci'irved pathyconcentric with the inner Vedge liofthe finger 67, theffswitch 69swinging' rearwardly l(as in: Fig. ye6) to per.- mit the roller to pass,:andsnapping back to its rnonmal, position Iagainst 1 ,the stop fingeror brace assoon as 'it lis free of theroller. llhe pants are thusrestored :to their initial positions. f i e, i t i F rom the `foregoingit will be rseen that vmy invention finy its yprefenred fmrno` dispenseswith allaeestly rotary ,Cams vwhose sole function fis to .eXpandfandcollapse ,the templet, and instead makes use ofv ai'ixed cam` [and oneofthe members whichcopen ate with the pressing devices. Il 'alsoeliminate the train, of gearsheretofore employed to .transmit motionfrom the main camshaft to the templet sections, thereby further`simpliffying` the r'naj'chine.` 1t desirable,` re liance may" 'be placedentirely upon `the presser 36, 4Without upa bedy 10,topress :the foldedblanlnin which case it isonly necessary to `remove the toggies 1.2, 13,and fastenthe bed in its upper position by :anylconvenient means,y notshown. M tf i ,lt Will also tbe' seen that .the invention comprisesanovel mode]y of jcontrollingthe expansion and contraction of thetemplet,also `a novel specific .modeoi'I enpandingethe teinplet ,previous totolding andalso `a. novel specific imode of contracting thetempletafterinfolding kand beforeA pressing; f'lhevyina chine, IWhich .is `adaptedfor `infolding the edges of 'blanks for collars or analogousarticles,may be said to comprise the combinadmoyement of theY tion of the .bed`or support l0A for blanks, .the expansible and contractible templet,tithe upwardly and downwardly swingable .templet carrier 20` adapted toaccurately posit-ion the `templetA upon the Vblanks on the support,mechanism' carried with the templet Aadapted tov effect expansion andcontraction thereof, said mechanism including a mow able projection orlever 60, infolders for in.- folding blank edges .over the teinpletedges, .means for applying a creasing pressure upon the folds of theblankson the-support, namely, by forcing, a presser toward the folds, apassive. contact or cam device which operates through the positioningde'- scent fof .the templet to actuate the templet mechanism forexpandingr the' templet, such contactk bein g mounted in the machine inthe path of the projection `orfleyer for -cooperationthereogt but Whollydisconnected therefromivhen the templet is fully elevated, together Withactiye connections 71 Which'are independent of, the passive contactandare operated by the pressure applying means for actuating. the templetmechanism so as to contract the templetbefore the pressing is effected.;and the c ontact 65 and the connections Tlgbeing such as t0 Permit theeentnaetble ,templi/et 'tovrise betere, the preeeulzeapplying Ineensresumes its `oniginal condition. The .parts are all harmoniouslyconnected so that from 'a Single, Shaft they are automatically operatedWith the followingftiming: The templet `is caused to descend and `to bepositioned upon the blanks inv expanded condition; after- Ward, and whenthe folds are formed, the presser isapplied, contracting the templet andcreasing the folds; thelcontractec'l templet is `lifted to originalposition-gand kiinally the pressing means `is restored to originalcondition. f l

, It is `to be understood that the invention is not limited vtothestructure herein .specifically described, butcan be yembodied inotheuforms without departure from yits proper spirit and scope asdefined bythe appendedclaims. f f ,f f

ldihat l claimis: i ,f 1 l. Inamachine for infoldingthe edges of blanks'for ycollars or .analogous articles,

the combination of a support `for blanks, ,an

oxpansible'and contract-ibis templet,y an upwardly and downwardlyinoifabletemplet carrieradapted to accurately/position lthe templetuponthe blanks on the"suppont,ex

panding andcontracting mechanism carried with said tcmplet, means 'forinfolding blank yedges overtemplet edges, means for applying creasingpressure upon the folds oi" the lblanks on the support, 1a passivedeyicenoperating through the positioning yde.-

scent of the templet to actuate said mechav nismtoyexpand the templet,and active connections operated by'said pressure applying f lso meansfor actuating said mechanism to contract -the templet.

2. In a machine for infolding the edges of blanks for collars oranalogous' articles, the combination of a support for blanks, anexpansible and contractible templet, an upwardly and vdownwardly movabletemplet carrier adapted to accurately'position the.

lpressure applying means'for actuating said mechanismfto contract` thetemplet. Y

3. In amachine for infolding the edges of blanks for collars oranalogous articles, the

ycombination of a supporty for blanks, infolding means, an expansibleand contractible templet, an upwardly and downwardly movable templetcarrier adapted to accurately positionthe vtemplet upon the blankson thesupport, expanding and contracting mechanismcarried with said templetcomprising a shiftable projection,a passive device having a fixedlocation in the path of the descending projection and operating throughthe positioning descent of the templet to actuate said mechanism toexpand the templet, and an active device for contracting the templetwhile positioned on said support.

4. Ina machine for infolding the edges of blanks'for collars oranalogous articles, the combination of fa support for blanks, an exepansible and contractible templet, means for movingthe'templet up anddown, including i an upwardly and downwardly movable templet .carrieradaptedy to-accurately pos1vr Vtion the'templet upon the blanks on thesupport, expanding and contracting mechan'ism carried with said templet,means for infolding rblank edges over the templet edges, meansforapplying creasing pres.-

sure upon the folds of the blanks on the supf Y port,1andactiveyconnections operated by Yeo said pressure applying means foractuating said mechanism to contract the templet y,on

the supportbefore the creasing of the blank is effer'zted,l saidconnections being independent ofthe fittings by Vwhich thetemplet ismoved up and down. s

In a machine for infolding the edges of blanks for collars or analogousarticles, the combination ofa support for blanks, anv exi pansibleand'contractible templet, meansrfor 'moving the templet'up and downincluding anV `upwardly kand ldownwardlyv movable templet carrieradaptedto accurately position the templet upon the blanks on the support,expanding and contracting mechanism n active'connectionsoperatedby said pressure j applying means for actuating said mechanismto contract the templet onv the support before the creasing of the blankis effected,

said connections being independent of thev fittings by which the templetis lmoved up and 'down and other means, independent of the pressureapplying means for automatically effecting expansion of theV templet:prior tothe operation of the folding means.

' 6. In a'blank-foldingy machine, the combination of fa: support fortheblank, a head j Y movable verticallyv toward and from the support, anexpansible andlcollapsible tempiet carried by the head", a laterallyextending lever fulcrumed on thehead and connected with the templet toexpand and collapse the same, a pivoted cam-member in the path of theouter portion of the leverfor engagement thereby, a stopk againstA whichthe cammember bears when engagedby the downwardly moving lever wherebysuch downward movement will actuate the lever in one 7. In avblank-folding machine, the conibination of a table, a ,headV movablevertically toward and from the table, an expansible and collapsibletemplet carried by the head, allaterally extending lever carried by thehead and connected with the templet to expand and collapse the same', asupporting device fixed at the side ofthevtable and having' front andrear fingers extending up-` wardly, a vertical cam-memberpivoted'betweensaid fingers withy its `rear edge in the path ofthe outerend of the lever in its downward" movement and vits.`v upper end bearingon the front iingenand means operating 'after'the outer end of the leverhas passed ,the cam-member to shift said outerl end to the front ofthe'cam-member.

y8; Ina blank-foldingr machine, the combination of a support for theblank, a head movable 'toward and from the support,'an

expansible and collapsible'ftemplet carried by the head, ctempletexpanding and" collapsing Vmechanism carried bythe head,

mally spaced above' the r:support whenV the` head isV at its nearestapproachl tolthe support, an actuating leve'rcommon to the saidmechanism and the presser and coperating I l2() Y means for' causing themovement 'of the head toward the support to actuate Vsaid mechai, f ijsy first with the former to collapse the temple't'j and then with thepresserto move thesame s toward the support..

9. In a blank-folding machine,-the com-y bination of asupport fortheblank, a head movable toward and from the support, an expansible andcollapsible templet carried by the head, a lever carried by the head andconnected withlthe templet to expand .and collapse the same, said lever,having a cani# edge, means foractuating fthe lever inone direction toexpand the teinplet while the head is approaching the support,andkmeansy the said cam-edge ropposite direction adapted to cooperatewith tor `actuate the lever inthe and collapse the templet* b ination ofa support, a yhead movable ver-y y actuate the lever and ther blank 10.Ina blank-folding machine,` the colnybination of a support for theblank,a head movabletoward and from thesupport, an

expansible and collapsibletemplet carried by the head,atemplet-expanding and collapsinglever carried by the head, means toexpand the templet, a pressercarried by the head, yieldingmeans forholding,` the presser out of contact with n when the templet is seatedon the blank, andk means for movingzthepresser toward the support toseat ythe presseron the blank, said means including a leverr coperatinglirst wi th the lirst ate the same and collapse the templet and thenwith 'the presserto seat the same.

ll. In a blank-folding rmachine,the combination ola support movablevertically toward and from the support, an expansible and collapsibletemplet carried by the head and adapted to be seated on the blank, alaterally extending lever carried by the/head andconnected with thetemplet to expand and collapse the same and havin(r an inclined cam-ede, means co erating with the lever to expand the templet before the sameis seated on the blank, a presser carried by the head and yieldinglyheld above the blank while' seated on the latter, a lever 'movabletoward and from the inclined 'cam-edge 'on the firstnamed levertoactua'te the* same and collapse the templet and thereafter `torcoperate with the presser `and depress the same. l

12. In a blank-,folding machine, the comtically relatively to thesupport, an expan- Copies of this patent may be obtained rflor namedlever to actufor theblank, a head the `templet is l bination of siblealla collapsible ampia carried by ,the

head, a jtemplet-exp'anding and collapsing lever carried by the head`and extending laterally therefrom; and means for actuating thekleverfto expand and collapse the'templet,r comprising. a, camfmember inthe path of f the outer portion of the in the path of the outer end ofthe lever as the lever moves downward, a stop to prevent for'ivardpivotal movement of the'caln-mem- `the downwardly moving lever, a secondlever at the side of the supportto co-f operate with the first nalnedlever and actuate the same, andmeans for actuating the second leverafter the first-named lever has passed the cam-member.

14. In a blanlrfolding machine, the zcom- 4bination of a support, avertically7 movable head, an expansible and collapsible templet carriedyby the head, a' templet-expanding and collapsing lever carried by thehead and extending laterally therefrom, and having aninclinedlcam-edge,a pivoted cammembei' in the path of the outer end of the lever, means toprevent pivotal movement of the cam-member by the lever in its downwardlnovement, a lever pivoted at the side of the l means to swing ve centseach, by

f Washington, D. C. ,l

support to swing inwardly and loutwardly and adapted to cooperate withthe inclined cam-edge of the 'first-named lever, and

operation with said cam-edge after the outer end of the first lever haspassed said cammember."

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

u HARLEY l/Vitnesses:

JAMES M, SNYDER, ANDnRsoN McLnoD.'

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

a lever mounted at the M. CLEARWATER.

asupport for 'the blank, a head -f i the second lever into co-

